Why do people support Rep. Kucinich’s race for the presidency? It’s not as if he has invested much time or effort into the race. He barely appears on the campaign trail and seems much more interested in being on the stage during the debates than anything else. That is a shame. He could be working to build the progressive movement and support for the issues he cares most about, like universal health care than simply promoting himself. Kucinich just doesn’t walk the walk. This is the perfect example of what I mean:

NPR attempted to contact all of the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns about whether they provide health care coverage to their staffs. All the Democratic candidates confirmed they offer health insurance, except Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who, ironically, “advocates the most generous tax-funded health plan of any candidate.”

Kucinich should be out there talking about his experience working to find affordable, quality coverage for his staff, not making them go without coverage.

There is a real problem within the progressive movement with organizations and candidates failing to pay their staff fair wages and benefits. We simply do not take care of our own. Dennis Kucinich is the worst example of this type of behavior. They expect their staff to advocate for good working conditions, but fail to provide it to them.

I am for one not disappointed that Kucinich will not be appearing in the next debate.

My friend kid oakland has an excellent post up, which I urge you to read. I too am uncomfortable with the t-shirt’s John Aravosis created in the wake of the McClurkin/Obama flap. kid oakland issued a challenge to Aravosis: what next?

Where are you going to take it from here?

Is it enough that a wave of anti-Obama rhetoric has swept the web? Was that what you were after? Or were you looking for something more….say, engagement, policy debate, coalition-building between Blacks and gays? What kind of response and challenges can we look forward to from you regarding the other Democratic presidential candidates? What is AMERICAblog doing to bring Democrats of every skin color who are sympathetic to McClurkin, who perhaps even share his mindset, into engagement and a reasoned exchange of views?

John, I look forward to reading about your outreach efforts in the days and weeks to come!

Obama may not be able to bring together these people, but somebody clearly needs to. I actually would be very interested to see Aravosis invite on to his blog some of the folks listed here on this letter. They write:

We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters. And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.

We also ask Senator Obama’s critics to consider the alternatives. Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans? Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?

We stand with Senator Obama. We stand with him because of the solutions he is proposing for our nation. We stand with him because of his character and his judgment. But the most important reason we stand with him is because today, as he has done all along, Barack Obama is causing us to stand together.

Look, I really want a big tent and wish that Obama was able to bring them together where words of hatred were not spread. He failed at that. He has united the folks who have written the letter, but his and his campaigns actions have driven many more away from him.

What I wanted most was for Obama to speak “truth in love” in person, not through press releases or interviews with gay publications. I wanted him to appear on that stage with Donnie McClurkin and challenge him when McClurkin started blaming the blogs and claiming the bible hates me. That would be a unifying moment. That is when his message needed to be heard the most.

I want to believe in the politics of hope. I want a politician who will bring together millions under one big tent. I want a progressive to speak up, to me and for me. Thus far Obama has done a lot of pretty talking, but has failed to deliver when push comes to shove.

The vote to override the President’s veto did not pick up enough legislators and it failed 273 to 156. Only two Democrats voted with the Bush Administration, down from four in the original vote. This issue will not die and the Democrats have vowed to cover all 10 million kids. In the meantime cheer yourself up with this video.

Here are my posts thus far this week

Walters: Not Worth Fixing 2/3rds Rule

Doom and Gloom Don Perata

Is Arnold allowing dirty tricksters to steal the White House?

Edwards speaks out against the dirty trick initiative

Media (Matters) on Dirty Tricks Initiatives: OC Register, Dan Walters and FOX

Arnold Going Backwards on Health Care

Wow a Meeting and Hospital Fee May Be Back

Villaraigosa Picks Activist as His Policy Advisor

I am now officially working for the Courage Campaign on the dirty tricks initiative. Up until now my work has been in a voluntary capacity, as we were ramping up.

Man the air quality in Sacramento this week is terrible. We could not really practice last night because of it. I believe it is supposed to hit 102 here today. Ugh!